Hornets-Lakers is a fight you don't back down from: Gerry V

The NBA Playoffs is where reputations are validated and enhanced, where new ones emerge, and where some are tagged as pure hype. It's an atmosphere where the emotional and the physical combine to thicken the air, making it impossible for the easily intimidated to inhale.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneMICHAEL DeMOCKER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE
The Hornets will need their greatest effort to beat Kobe Bryant (24) and the defending champion Lakers during the playoffs that start Sunday in Los Angeles.

The Lakers plan to quickly play the life out of the Hornets. It's their plan to strip the Hornets of any hope of even sniffing a chance at anything. The Lakers' grand plan is to win the NBA Title.

Hornets Coach Monty Williams will not have to script any elaborate pep talk. He won't even have to raise his voice. Every Hornet knows that the basketball world is looking at them as the appetizer the Lakers will nibble on until all that remains of them is a pile of dry bones.

Many are saying that once the Lakers display their fangs, the Hornets will only remember that they are winless this year vs. Kobe and his band of ring wearers.

Monty Williams will only have to look at his players. The eyes will deliver the message.

There are certain fights in life you should walk away from. You pick your battles wisely. This time, there is no option. You plant your feet and you make a stand

Rumble and tumble with the big dogs. Make sure you get your share of bites. Make them exhaust all of their ammo. Give it the best shot you have.

It's like the time you walked all the way across the room and asked the best looking girl to dance and got turned down. You keep your cool. Never let 'em see you sweat,

Game #1 is Sunday afternoon. Time to dance, as hard as you can and shake like a mambo king. Give it the best shot ya got. Like they say where I come from,

Like they say in my home stomping grounds of Queens: "Hey, Fuggetaboutit. Do what ya gotta do. Ya know what I mean? Fear nobody. Ya understand what I'm sayin? Don't you ever back down, ya hear me?"